Fugitive Captured In Mexico Following Cathedral City Shooting

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — A man who fled to Mexico after being sought in connection with a deadly Cathedral City shooting has been apprehended in Tijuana, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Joel Sanchez, 19, of Cathedral City was returned to Riverside County and is scheduled to be arraigned April 26 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on multiple charges in connection with the March 23, 2020, shooting at a home on Avenida La Vista that killed Ruben Hernandez, 43, and wounded a young girl who was reported by KESQ as being Hernandez's 10-year-old daughter.

Hernandez died at the scene and the girl was taken to a nearby hospital and survived her injuries.

It's not clear what led police to Sanchez. Two other defendants have been charged in the case. Jose Agustin Sanchezcasas, 24, has been charged with murder and Ethan Joshua Bravo, 20, has been charged with attempted murder. Both have their next court appearance May 13.

Another man, Gabriel Hernandez, 21, has been charged with murder but has not been captured and his whereabouts are unknown, according to the DA's office.

Sanchez has been charged with aiding Hernandez to avoid and escape arrest and prosecution, with an enhancement of criminal street gang activity. He is also charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, a shotgun, and possession of a stolen firearm, a second shotgun, the DA's office said.

Anyone with information on Hernandez's whereabouts is asked to contact Cathedral City police at 760-770-0300.